Toward the Replacement of Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Compounds: Perfluoropolyether-Based Low Surface Energy Grafted Nanocoatings

Caliskan T., ÖZKAN HÜKÜM K., Caykara T., Luzinov I.

ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS, vol.4, no.2, pp.980-986, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 4 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1021/acsapm.1c01438
  • Journal Name: ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex
  • Page Numbers: pp.980-986
  • Keywords: water repellency, oil repellency, perfluoropolyether, polymer grafting, nanocoatings, surface modification, FLUOROPOLYMERS, FILMS, WATER, FABRICATION, COPOLYMERS, MEMBRANES, DENSITY, FIBERS, LAYERS
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We describe a straightforward approach to fabricating perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-based nanocoatings, significantly decreasing the spreading of oil and water on coated surfaces. In the fabrication, polyglycidyl methacrylate (PGMA) is used as an anchoring layer deposited on the silicon surface before PFPE attachment. Perfluoropolyether-based polyester acid (PFPE-COOH) is then grafted to the PGMA surface to reduce its surface energy and, consequently, wettability. The grafted surface demonstrates a hexadecane contact angle of 40-46 degrees and a water contact angle of 80-98 degrees. The surface's wettability strongly depends on the grafted layer thickness, where grafting of the thicker PFPE layers results in lower oil and water wettability. We expect that the employment of PFPE-based grafted nanocoatings will eliminate the health and environmental concerns of long perfluoroalkyls, which are typically used to obtain surfaces with decreased spreading of oil and water.